Thursday, July 2, 2009

Fourth Of July + A Flag Giveaway!

Please enter yourself for a beautiful "Waving Flag" Christmas ornament just like this one, from Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland as my gift to you in celebration of the FOURTH OF JULY!

(Drawing will be held one week from today! Send your friends over, this is a beauty!)

Soon, I will post a nice tour of Bronner's for all of you to see!

July 4th is one of my very favorite holidays: full of meaning, bought for me at a price I have not had to pay. It's a special time to enjoy our families, food, and fireworks and our FOREFATHERS...and all those soldiers out there across the globe who have given up safety and security to sacrifice for US.

They are truly great, yet many or most of THEM will not have the day off like we will, to barbecue, visit with their families or to watch a relaxing fireworks show.

Here are a few scenes from around the house this fourth of July weekend.I will be TYING ON MY APRON and traveling July 4th to our state's capitol to give a few hours to defend the costly and hard work of our SOLDIERS and FOUNDING FATHERS while I am still able to do so.

Then when we get home, we'll have a smoked beef brisket on the grill, (that has been marinating for days!) and enjoy family with a picnic. Then about dusk, we'll be parked and waiting from the back of the pickup truck to watch the beautiful and thrilling fireworks show while we munch oncaramel corn!

Just a reminder of what our forefathers endured to insure that you and I would live freely (from an email I received from the American Freedom Alliance):

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over his home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The Redcoats jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged:

"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America.

The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

My thoughts are with the family and the captured Marine that has been taken in Afghanistan. Please pray for his safe return.

LONG MAY SHE WAVE...O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE,AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!

Oh, I love Bronners! I went their for the first time (as an adult!) last October when I traveled to Detroit from Kansas for my grandmother's 88th birthday. (We left the men sitting on benches outside as they wanted nothing to do with Christmas ornaments.) That place is just amazing! I got some fabulous ornaments that celebrate my Polish heritage, some lovely Danish ornaments to celebrate my husband's heritage and the most beautiful sunflower to celebrate my kiddos' birthplace!

Once again, such a lovely tribute to our men in uniform. Your patriotism shines brightly for all to see!

Blessings to you,Valerie

P.S. I need to dig out some old pics of my Americana Christmas tree that I did for several years while I was working for U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO). If I can find and scan I'll let you know!

Such a beautiful flag ornament and your blog is so patriotic. I love it. I saw your flag pillow and tried to find one at Walmart and couldnt. But I did find a beautiful flag pillow at Target. Im so glad I found your blog tho. It inspired my own patriotic decor on my porch and house. :) Happy 4th!

Thank you fellow patriot in an apron for this wonderful post! I will be headin' to our local tea party on the 4th too.A big thank you to all our military both active and retired. They are our bravest!!You place looks perfectly patriotic too!God bless and Happy Independence Day to you and yours. :> )~Karin

Yes! Wonderful post, and we will pray for the Marine. Our oldest son served 2 tours of duty in Iraq courtesy of the U.S.M.C. We are thankful he is home, but our hearts go out to so many others who are far from home.

It is so important for us to continue to tell people WHY we celebrate our Independence Day and about the sacrifice in blood that was given in the first place for our independence, lest we forget.( I surely do believe there are many in our nation who do not have a clue)Thanks again! Happy Independence Day!

Oh, please throw my name in the hat for the gorgeous ornament! Thank you so much! Wonderful post, chocked full with information. How many of our representatives would be willing to make the sacrifices that our founders did? None. Nada. Christmas and 4th of July are my absolute favorite holidays. One is to celebrate the birth of Christ and the other the birth of our Nation. Long may our flag wave and we maintain our hard-fought FREEDOM. Have fun at the tea party! Sure wish I could go!!!!

Thank you for sharing the background of the signers! What a lesson there is in reading the their stories! And thank you for stopping by my blog. It is so uplifting to know that patriotism abounds! I WILL come again!

Such a wonderful post. I love the patriotic decor you have done a wonderful job.Please enter me in your giveaway. I love that flag. I have never heard of Bronner's before. I will have to see if they are online. Have a happy 4th.

I just found your blog last week and I love it! I, too, live in a 110+ year old home, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Too much character! I also love the ornament--it would be nice to display year round.

Welcome To the Farmhouse

Hi, I'm Joni!I'm a Michigan mom and am richin all the ways that count.... live a simple life in the country, have a family that I love and they love me, I go to bed at night on sheets that have been dried in the sun and kissed by the wind, eat food from my garden and find joy in simple pleasures and a few hobbies, can pet and love and take care of our animals, and perhaps most of all: I have learned in my life to enjoy hard work. I can't ask for anything more and am blessed.

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